{"id":331,"date":"2014-12-30T06:08:04","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T06:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=331"},"modified":"2021-12-06T19:02:37","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T01:02:37","slug":"part2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode8\/part2\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 8: \u00a0FANthrax<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 2<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nick and Red arrived in New York a few hours later. They climbed into a car waiting outside the airport, which whisked them away to a location secured by K. Making their way through the door, they saw that Brian was already there. Nick frowned when Red immediately walked over to Brian, shaking hands with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick,\u201d Brian said formally, giving him a slight nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Nick muttered.<\/p>\n

Brian smirked before looking back at Red, his expression growing serious. \u201cI\u2019ve been briefed on the situation, though I don\u2019t know very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do we,\u201d Red replied. \u201cBasically, the victim is fine one minute and coughing up blood the next. It\u2019s very strange.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we have any idea how fast it\u2019s spreading?\u201d<\/p>\n

Red shook her head. \u201cNot sure. There\u2019s been a few cases reported, but the bouts don\u2019t seem to last too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I\u2019ve been told, we have no idea how it started.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue — it just kinda sprang from nowhere. The really bad thing is it may be airborne. Apparently, the staff treating the infected are becoming ill themselves. The possible death toll could spike pretty fast if that\u2018s the case. I imagine that it\u2019s going to be hard to quarantine people if they have to be treated and the other doctors are becoming infected.\u201d Red sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about surgical masks?\u201d Brian asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re wearing them, and they\u2019re still getting it. Maybe it\u2019s just passed by contact, not necessarily through the air. That may make it a bit easier to contain, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCouldn\u2019t they wear those cool spacesuit-looking things? Ya know, like what the astronauts wear?\u201d Nick questioned, feeling left out of the conversation.<\/p>\n

Brian smirked. \u201cSure, Nick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, he\u2019s got a point; they do have those airtight Hazmat suits. Not quite astronaut suits, Nick, but I do know what you mean.\u201d Red chuckled.<\/p>\n

Nick smiled smugly at Brian, sticking his tongue out at him when Red turned away from him. Brian glared at him before looking at Red.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what\u2019s our next step here, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we have to find out where this thing came from and how it\u2019s spreading. If it\u2019s spread through actual physical contact, which I\u2019m hoping for…\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick blanched. Looking around, he felt like he could get sick any second. Who knew? He felt fine now, but the next minute, he could be hurling like the morning after a good party. He sighed sadly. What he wouldn\u2019t give to be at a party right now, the drinks sliding smoothly down his throat, the ladies all lining up for a chance with him, and\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cUhh, Nick, your phone is ringing,\u201d Red announced.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Oh, damn,\u201d Nick mumbled, reaching into his pocket to pull his phone out. He looked at the ID, and his face lit up. \u201cDi!\u201d As he answered the call, he walked away from Red and Brian, ensuring privacy for his more interesting conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Nick! How\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, now that I\u2019m talking to you. So, what\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. I just wanted to check in and see how your mission was going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just looking into a few things here. How are things with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat! I\u2019m really excited to be working with Vitruvian! We\u2019re about to mediate an understanding between some foreign crime bosses.\u201d She giggled, indicating the probable lack of actual mediation.<\/p>\n

Nick frowned. \u201cYa know, I\u2019m really upset about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we never get to be on a mission together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, don\u2019t say that — we\u2019ve been on missions together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut not enough, Di. Nowhere near enough. Don\u2019t you know I need copious amounts of Diamonds to make me a happy boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCopious? Are you serious, Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? It\u2019s true, I do. I\u2019m miserable. Diamonds aren\u2019t just a girl\u2019s best friend, ya know,\u201d he said softly. \u201cOh wow, I have to get off this phone right now. This is just sad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not. If you need Diamonds to make you happy, Nick, there\u2019s probably tons of shops in Canada. You could even get me something nice, maybe square-cut or pear-shaped.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d Nick sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAww, don\u2019t sound so sad. I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be on a mission together soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be nice if you sounded sincerely upset, then I\u2019d believe that you honestly wanted it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond chuckled. \u201cI\u2019m hurting on the inside, Nick, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Nick could respond, he heard a male voice in the background call out, \u201cOh, Di-Di!\u201d He recognized it immediately as Leo\u2019s and scowled at his phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gotta go, Nick,\u201d Diamond said, causing Nick to refocus his thoughts away from Leo Di-Crapio and how much he detested the new 00-Agent. \u201cLeo\u2019s here to take me out to dinner before we leave.\u201d She giggled, and Nick rolled his eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s so sweet! You know I can\u2019t resist a luxurious night out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know something else you can\u2019t resist\u2026\u201d Nick replied, hoping to bring her attention back to him before his anger towards Leo could get the best of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too.\u201d Diamond giggled again. \u201cComing, Leo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick pulled the phone away from his ear as he heard a click. The flashing numbers on the screen confirmed that she had ended their conversation. He walked back towards Red and Brian, who eyed him curiously, but he only stopped long enough to pick up his duffel bag. \u201cLet\u2019s go! Now!\u201d he called over his shoulder and angrily shoved the door open, letting it slam shut as he walked outside.<\/p>\n

Brian and Red looked at each other for a moment before hastily catching up to Nick. They found him leaning against the driver\u2019s side door of his car, his sunglasses reflecting the sunlight as he stared at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright, Nick?\u201d Red asked as she tossed her bag into the trunk. It didn\u2019t take a lot of perception to notice that his conversation with Diamond had ruffled his feathers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he muttered, flashing her a smile in the hope that it would keep her from asking him any more questions about his bad mood. Once they had all stashed away their suitcases and gotten into the car, Nick silently turned the key in the ignition. He felt his heart pump faster as he pressed his foot down on the gas pedal, causing the car to shoot off towards the highway.<\/p>\n

An hour or so later, they finally crossed over into Canada to meet up with Red\u2019s friend, Jeanie, in Toronto. Red informed Nick and Brian about the procedures they would have to follow there to keep their chances of being infected with the virus as low as possible.<\/p>\n

Nick knew he should have paid more attention to what Red told them, but his mind kept drifting off to thoughts of Diamond.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick\u2026\u201d Red trailed off, worry in her voice.<\/p>\n

Nick ignored her as his mind continued to wander. At that moment, he happened to glance at a sign that said SPEED LIMIT: 100 KPH<\/strong>. Figuring the \u201cK\u201d in \u201cKPH\u201d probably stood for some Canadian word for \u201cmiles,\u201d Nick pressed down harder on the gas pedal. The car accelerated as it weaved through the traffic. Images kept running through his mind. Diamond and Leo. Diamond sipping champagne while Leo fed her strawberries. \u201cDamn it!\u201d he exclaimed, unaware that he was now vocalizing his frustrations. \u201cI fucking hate that Leo dude.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, Nick?\u201d Red again tried to catch Nick\u2019s attention before he spoke again. She could tell that he was only getting started on his tirade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho does he think he is?\u201d Nick continued, still ignoring her. She and Brian exchanged a concerned glance before both turned their attention back to the driver of the car. \u201c\u2018Oh, Di-Di!\u2019\u201d Nick said mockingly, scrunching his face into an exaggerated sneer. \u201cWhat a dumbass girly nickname! Di-Di. Even Lancy would think that\u2019s too frilly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick!\u201d Brian exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd his nickname — Vitruvian — what the hell is up with that?\u201d Nick\u2019s face twisted with disdain. \u201cIt\u2019s fucking retarded; that\u2019s what it is. \u2018Work of art,\u2019 my ass. He\u2019s a piece of work, alright!\u201d Nick growled. \u201cI bet she\u2019s wearing that low-cut pink dress she wore the first time I took her out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, Nick!\u201d Brian again tried to snap Nick out of his angry stupor. He became increasingly annoyed with Nick, especially since he had hardly any idea who Nick was even talking about.<\/p>\n

Red frowned as she watched Nick closely. His knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly, and his muscles were all tense with rage. What concerned her most was that he didn\u2019t seem to be paying any attention at all to the road in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I know all the tricks she\u2019s probably using on him, too. And that little creep\u2019s gotta have moves of his own, too–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNICK!\u201d Red and Brian finally shouted in unison.<\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT?!\u201d Nick hollered back at them. Did they have to yell at him? It was bad enough they were interrupting his train of thought. As he looked back at the road, he realized why Red and Brian had been so eager to get his attention. The cars on the road were coming straight at them, horns honking at him as the drivers angrily cursed him as they passed by. \u201cOh, shit!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, look out!\u201d Brian exclaimed as an eighteen-wheeler semi barrelled towards them. They all screamed as Nick tried to steer past it but could not get far enough out of the way. Suddenly, the wheel began to turn frantically in Nick\u2019s hands, causing the car to swerve off the road and crash into a tree.<\/p>\n

As steam poured out from under the crumpled hood, Nick peered over at Red in the passenger\u2019s seat and Brian in the backseat, grateful that they were both unharmed. Nick suspected that Pearl had equipped the car with more than enough airbags to protect its passengers from serious injury, but how she had rigged it to steer itself away from huge-ass trucks was beyond him. Too bad it didn\u2019t get out of the way of the tree, too.<\/p>\n

Everyone slowly got out of the car and brushed themselves off. Once they had all caught their breath, Brian swiftly smacked Nick on the back of the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw! What the hell was that for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou idiot, you almost got us KILLED!\u201d Brian shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026 I was on the opposite side of the road like I should have been!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s ENGLAND, you dummy! England, ya DILDO!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick stared blankly, processing this new information for a few moments. In the end, he merely blinked. \u201cBrian\u2026 just called me a dildo\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Red shook her head and pressed it into her palm as the three of them heard a siren approaching. The police car it belonged to came to a stop a few feet away from them. As the police officer slowly got out of his car, Nick was surprised to see that he was dressed like an American cop. He had always thought that Canadian police all dressed up like Dudley Do-Right.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey there,\u201d the officer said with a slight tip of his hat. \u201cWhich one of you was the driver of this vehicle?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick stepped forward and raised his hand slightly. \u201cThat would be me, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

The officer looked him over and nodded. \u201cCan I see your license, please, eh?\u201d Nick nodded and pulled his driver\u2019s license out, handing it to the officer. He stood there nervously as the officer looked his license over closely. \u201cAmerican, eh?\u201d Nick nodded again, and the officer laughed. \u201cWell, Mr. Carter, seeing as you just crossed over the border here, I\u2019ll let you off with a couple of tickets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, officer, and — wait, a couple of tickets?\u201d Nick asked as the officer handed him his license. While putting it away, he silently prayed that he\u2019d misheard the officer, and his accent made whatever he had actually said sound like \u201ca couple of tickets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d the officer confirmed as he took out a large pad of paper and began to write on it. \u201cOne for reckless driving\u2026\u201d He pulled out the white paper and handed it to Nick. \u201c\u2026and one for speeding.\u201d He finished his sentence as he pulled out the second piece of white paper he\u2019d just written on. \u201cNow, I better not catch you makin\u2019 trouble around here again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, we\u2019ll be careful, officer,\u201d Brian spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d The officer smiled. \u201cHave a wonderful day now, and welcome to Canada!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, wonderful day,\u201d Nick muttered. First, he got stuck with a new shadow — who thankfully wasn\u2019t there to see this disaster — and then he got a call from Diamond, who only wanted to talk about Leo Di-Jerkface. Then he crashed his car because the Canadians didn\u2019t drive on the opposite side of the road, and, to top it all off, now he had two tickets to pay off that HimTak would certainly not cover.<\/p>\n

While looking down at the tickets, his eyes were immediately drawn to the dollar amounts at the bottom of the forms. \u201cHey, wait! Is this in American dollars or Canadian\u2026 um\u2026 money?\u201d But the officer had already climbed back into his car. Nick sighed as the police car drove off, the officer giving a friendly wave goodbye while he merged back onto the highway.<\/p>\n

Red tried her hardest not to laugh but ended up laughing anyway. She looked at Nick apologetically as she tried to regain her composure, her laughter slowly dying down to a quiet giggle.<\/p>\n

Brian rolled his eyes and plopped down in the backseat of the car, leaving the door open as he sat facing Nick, who paced back and forth to keep himself calm. \u201cI knew I should\u2019ve driven this time,\u201d Brian muttered to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa!\u201d Nick replied, hearing Brian\u2019s comment as he paced past him. \u201cBut you can\u2019t drive this car because it only answers to me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but even the car itself did a better job of driving than you did. And it crashed into a tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red stifled her laughter this time. Nick picked up a large stick lying nearby and chucked it into the forest in front of him before he turned to look at the damage to the car, wondering how they were going to get to the hospital now.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

On the 200 block of Elizabeth Street, in the heart of Toronto, heads turned as a massive vehicle rolled up the street with its bass blaring, drumbeats thundering through its closed windows.<\/p>\n

In the backseat, Brian massaged his temples, as if he had a headache. He leaned forward, sticking his head between the two front seats, and asked, \u201cTell me why again you felt the need to rent a Hummer<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI already told you,\u201d said Nick from behind the wheel, not bothering to turn around. \u201cThat\u2019s all the rental place had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLiar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRed?\u201d<\/p>\n

In the passenger seat, Red Jewel turned down the stereo, which was blaring Disturbed, glanced at Nick, and turned around to meet Brian face to face. \u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d she confirmed, smiling in a satisfied way.<\/p>\n

\u201cAm not!\u201d Nick protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre too,\u201d Red replied coolly. \u201cYou have a terrible poker face. You always smile\u2026 or blush.\u201d She reached out and pinched his cheek, which had, indeed, been turning pink.<\/p>\n

Nick twisted away from her, scrunching up his face. \u201cAlright, alright, you got me. I just thought a Hummer would look cool. \u2018Specially if we get to drive it wearing those spacesuit things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHazmat suits,\u201d Red corrected for a second time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, those. C\u2019mon Littrell, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I think?\u201d Brian chimed in. \u201cI think my green-lovin\u2019 cousin is gonna flip when he finds out you wrecked the custom car he allowed you to have and then used company money to rent the king of all gas-guzzlers as a replacement. Can you imagine the reaction, Red? I think I\u2019m gonna have to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red giggled. \u201cK is gonna be pissed,\u201d she admitted with a sidelong glance at Nick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is why we stick with the story: this is all the rental place had,\u201d insisted Nick stubbornly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd not only a Hummer but a bright yellow<\/em> one?\u201d Brian ranted on. \u201cI mean, really, Carter? I thought you HimTak guys liked to stay inconspicuous. There\u2019s nothing inconspicuous about buzzing through downtown Toronto in a giant bumblebee!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said\u2026 that\u2019s all the rental place had. And if that\u2019s not good enough\u2026\u201d Nick paused to turn down the stereo further. \u201cDown With the Sickness\u201d descended to a faint hum. \u201c\u2026then you know what we say?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian rolled his eyes. \u201cWhat do we say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe say\u2026 \u2018BLAME CANADA!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Red giggled. Brian groaned.<\/p>\n

Nick grinned and promptly launched into\u2026 \u201cBlame Canada! Blame Canada! With all their beady little eyes and flapping heads so full of lies\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBlame Canada! Blame Canada!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to form a full assault. It\u2019s Canada\u2019s fault!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNICK!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?!\u201d Nick shouted, slamming his hands on the steering wheel. The horn honked. \u201cCan\u2019t you at least let me finish the fucking chorus?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot when you\u2019re about to drive right past the hospital!\u201d Red exclaimed. \u201cWe\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Oh — shitballs!\u201d Looking up to see the blue letters spelling out TORONTO GENERAL HOSPITAL<\/strong> on the fa\u00e7ade of a tall, tan building, Nick slammed on the brakes. He simultaneously jerked the wheel to the right, causing the Hummer to bounce up onto the curb. \u201cOops.\u201d He reversed and managed to back the front wheel off the curb, parallel parking neatly next to it. \u201cWho\u2019s da man?\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither Red nor Brian responded. They both seemed eager to get out and away from the bright yellow Hummer. Not Nick, though. He turned up the stereo for one more chorus of \u201cDown With the Sickness,\u201d drumming his fingers on the steering wheel and head-banging, before he finally opened his door and jumped down.<\/p>\n

When he looked up, Red and Brian stood with a second woman, staring at him. She looked more bewildered than amused like Red or exasperated like Brian. Nick strode up to them, grinning. \u201cJust needed one last dose of this mission\u2019s theme music,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Red stepped forward, touching the other woman\u2019s arm. \u201cNick, this is my good friend from med school, Dr. Jeanie Boulet. Jeanie, meet my, uh\u2026 colleague\u2026 Agent Nick Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick gave Jeanie an appreciative smile, drinking in her beauty. She had skin the color of caramel and eyes like drops of coffee, deep enough he could drown in them. Her return smile was warm and kind, though he could detect the stress behind it and in the lines around her dark eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Dr. Boulet, you\u2019re one of those infectious disease specialists, right?\u201d Nick inquired. \u201cMaybe you can answer this question for me: When do we get to put on the cool spacesuit things?\u201d<\/p>\n

Red groaned. \u201cFor the last time, Nick, they\u2019re called Hazmat suits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian gave her a look as if to say, Don\u2019t bother getting annoyed; he\u2019s clearly suffered some kind of traumatic brain injury.<\/em><\/p>\n

Red smirked back as if to say, I know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oblivious to this exchange, Nick nodded eagerly. \u201cYeah, those! When do we get to put on those?\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 3<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 8: \u00a0FANthrax Part 2   Nick and Red arrived in New York a few hours later. They climbed into a car waiting outside the airport, which whisked them away to a location secured by K. Making their way through the door, they saw that Brian was already there. Nick\u2026<\/p>\n

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